Earthy-Quaky-Calishaky or What to Do When the Earth Feels like Doing the Mambo

Dear Blog,

Just in case you didn't know, we had a pretty big quake (no, not SHAKE) on Easter Sunday around 4 pm. And just like in the old days, when people used to write poems, or songs to subdue the Gods' anger that sent natural disasters to Earth, here I am writing my own blog-one needs to keep updated- trying to make peace with the aftershocks. It won't rhyme, and I'm not sure the bottom of the earth will be impressed with these notes. However, I need to do it, it will make me feel better at night when the bed will start shaking--due to external causes, i.e.

Dear fellow Californians. Here's how you don't get yourselves killed whenever the Earth feels like doing the Mambo again.


1). Always put ur headphones on while jogging. It's always good to listen to music while the Earth is dancing.


2). If you have a dog and she really wants to get out even if you just took her out 10 mins ago, rest assured she has read the "Tips for Earthquake Safety" manual in a previous lifetime, when she was a God. She knows it's far safer outside than in the bathtub (unless she had too many Easter eggs and prefers her diarrhea in the grass rather than in the bathtub).


3). If you're in the house, don't hide under the desk. Even if you have your newly bought Ipad on it, don't think God is going to spare it (and you hiding under it) just because you just spent 700 dollars on a gadget that you don't really need.


4). If you have premonitory powers and you're looting some house, make sure you pick a wooden building. If it collapses, large survival voids are created. You won't get that iPad lying on the desk and you'll go to prison, but hey, you'll be alive.


5). If you're in bed dreaming when IT happens, just curl off the bed and lie on the floor. Don't forget ur blanket! If you happen to be a very composed person and you fall asleep during IT, a blanket will prevent a nasty cold.


6). Don't go on the stairs even if you like having a good smoke. The stairs are the most dangerous place to be during a quake.



7). If you feel IT coming while u're in ur vehicle, get out asap and lie down next to ur vehicle. There's nothing funny in this note. Unless truth is.



While IT happened, I wasn't that scared. Maybe because my hubby and a friend was around, the sun was shining and my bean and lentil jars didn't fall off the shelves, they only wiggled. At night, however, when the first, the second, the third and the fourth aftershocks came, I really got shaky. I couldn't sleep that well al night, so my mind was trying to keep busy. In the morning it came up with this realization. We see the grass grow, the trees stand, the birds fly, the people jog, play with a ball, drive etc. We think we actually tread on firm ground. But, hey, it's a ball of fire we're actually 'lying' on. Oh, no, I don't even want to get into strings or waves or other much more complicated to visualize models of existence. Earthy-Quaky-Calishaky is awe-inspiring enough and pretty much cures me of asking myself too serious questions. While IT happened, I wasn't that scared. Maybe because my hubby and a friend was around, the sun was shining and my bean and lentil jars didn't fall off the shelves, they only wiggled. At night, however, when the first, the second, the third and the fourth aftershocks came, I really got shaky. I couldn't sleep that well al night, so my mind was trying to keep busy. In the morning it came up with this realization. We see the grass grow, the trees stand, the birds fly, the people jog, play with a ball, drive etc. We think we actually tread on firm ground. But, hey, it's a ball of fire we're actually 'lying' on. Oh, no, I don't even want to get into strings or waves or other much more complicated to visualize models of existence. Earthy-Quaky-Calishaky is awe-inspiring enough and pretty much cures me of asking myself too serious questions. So instead of asking, I'll just go ahead and try to BE THERE. Whenever the Earth feels like doing the Mambo. I'll Mamboearth along, i.e.



Thanks to Doug Copp, the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI).